Rio Olympics Final Recap: U.S. Wins More Gold; Games Close With Colorful Ceremony

The United States finished the Rio Games with 121 medals, including 46 gold. Here’s a recap of the final day’s action at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil on Sunday:

Rio Passes Baton To Tokyo At Closing Ceremony

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The 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games closed on Sunday night with a colorful, elaborate and fun ceremony at Maracana Stadium that officially started the countdown to the Tokyo Games of 2020.

Many of the world's best athletes attended the ceremony to watch the host country salute the world. Carnival performers, dancers and musicians mixed with more cerebral meditations and speeches to create a memorable spectacle.

The governor of Tokyo then accepted the Olympic flag and the flame was extinguished, marking the end of the 2016 games.

Kevin Durant Leads Team USA To Hoops Gold

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Kevin Durant scored 30 points, including 24 in the first half, and the U.S. men’s basketball team crushed Serbia, 96-66 to win their third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the event. Up just 19-15 after one quarter, the Americans surged to a 23-point halftime lead and coasted in the second half, giving head coach Mike Krzyzewski the victory and a 76-game winning streak as he exits his role with USA Basketball.

As a result of the win, Carmelo Anthony became the first U.S. man to win three gold medals in basketball. He announced after the game that he was done with international competition.

Elsewhere, Sergio Rodriguez made two free throws with 5.4 seconds to play and Spain beat Australia, 89-88, in the bronze medal game. Pau Gasol scored 31 points for Spain. Australia finished fourth for the fourth time. The country has never won a medal in men’s basketball.

Claressa Shields Repeats Boxing Gold Medal

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American boxer Claressa Shields beat Nouchka Fontijn of the Netherlands by unanimous decision in the women’s middleweight division on Sunday to become the first U.S. boxer to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals. Shields also won the gold at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Kyle Snyder Becomes Youngest U.S. Wrestler To Win Gold

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American wrestler Kyle Snyder beat Khetag Gazyumov of Azerbaijan, 2-1, for the gold medal in the 97-kg freestyle wrestling division on Sunday. Snyder, 20, became the youngest U.S. wrestler ever to win gold. Gazyumov, 33, won bronze at the 2008 and 2012 Games.

Brazil Defeats Italy For Volleyball Gold

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Brazil defeated Italy in straight sets on Sunday to win the gold medal in men's volleyball. Despite losing to the Italians earlier in the Games, Brazil decisively captured the gold medal match, 25-22 28-26 26-24. Brazil also beat Italy for the gold in Athens in 2004.

Other Olympic News: Mongolian Wrestling Coaches Strip In Protest

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• Two coaches of Mongolian wrestler Mandakhnaran Ganzorig removed their shirts and pants in protest of an official ruling that penalized Ganzorig for celebrating at the end of the bronze medal match and thus gave the decision to his opponent, Ikhtiyor Navruzov of Uzbekistan. Chaos ensued in front of the fans and caused the coaches to be removed from the competition area by security.

• After missing the 2012 Games, Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya won the gold medal in the Olympic marathon in Rio on Sunday with a time of 2 hours, 8 minutes, 44 seconds. Feyisa Lelisa of Ethiopia took the silver, while American Galen Rupp earned bronze.

Final Medal Count

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The United States’ 121 overall medals bested second-place China’s total by 51. Great Britain finished third with 67 total medals. The Americans also won the most medals in each of the gold, silver and bronze varieties.